St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, July 20, 2025

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thank You for Welcoming Sr. Rubi and Sr. Jean Marie of the Servants of the Visitation and for Supporting the Missionary Cooperative Plan!

This past weekend, our parish had the privilege of participating in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ annual Mission Cooperation Plan—a sacred opportunity for religious congregations from around the world to share their powerful stories and invite us to partner with them in spreading the love of Christ in spreading the love of Christ to those most in need.

We were honored to welcome Sr. Rubi Arellano and, on Saturday, Sr. Jean Marie of the Servants of the Visitation (SSV), who shared the inspiring mission and ministry of their community. With decades of experience in missionary service, they spoke about their work at the SSV Mission in Borongan, Philippines.

The appeal focused especially on the Ain Karim Children’s Home there—the only accredited and government-licensed orphanage in Eastern Samar. Ain Karim is a place of hope and healing for children from newborn to eight years old who are in crisis: abandoned, orphaned, malnourished, disabled, or neglected. At the home, the SSV Sisters lovingly care for each child as if they were their own, creating a family-like atmosphere rooted in compassion, dignity, and the light of Christ for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

Thank you for opening your hearts in prayer and your hands in support. May we continue to be a community that shares God’s love far beyond our borders.

If you would like to make a donation to the Servants of the Visitation's Ain Karim Children’s Home, you can click here. Funds collected at St. Gertrude will be sent to the Sisters to support their work.

Guadalupanos Rosary Group (Grupo del Rosario de Guadalupanos) on Friday Evenings

All are welcome to attend the weekly Rosary group held on Friday evenings at 7:00 pm.

The bilingual gathering is held in the dining room of the Ministry Center, located at 6214 North Glenwood Avenue.

"Brewed at St. Gertrude" Social Gathering is This Sunday, July 20

Please join us this Sunday, July 20, for a parish hospitality event, "Brewed at St. Gertrude!" 

Following the 10:30 am mass, come to the Social Hall for pastries, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa. All are welcome: new and long-time parishioners, families, and visitors!

Commonweal Action: Meeting Planned for This July 20



St. Gertrude’s Commonweal Action will meet again on Sunday, July 20, in the Social Hall after the 10:30 am Mass.

At our June 22 meeting, we discussed the results of the "Faith in Action" survey and, in small groups, began planning ways to respond to those results by opposing the current administration’s unchristian policies—policies that harm the poor, the elderly, children, immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and veterans.

Commonweal Action is committed to protecting access to healthcare (Medicaid) and food (SNAP), ensuring safety from wrongful deportation, and upholding the dignity of our most vulnerable neighbors. We take action through protests, letter-writing, educational efforts, and collaboration with like-minded community groups.

To move forward with the plans we’ve developed, we need your input, your energy, and your help!

Please join us on Sunday, July 20, around noon in St. Gertrude’s Social Hall—after the 10:30 am Mass and once everyone has had a chance to grab a coffee and connect at Brewed at St. Gertrude’s social gathering. The meeting will last approximately 90 minutes.

All are welcome.

Care for Real Collection Drive is July 26-27

Our collection drive for Care for Real is July 26 and July 27 before and after masses to support our neighbors in need.

The image shares Care for Real’s most needed items this week.

Please visit https://careforreal.org/wishlist/ to see what else they are specifically looking for at this time. 

Our collection drive for Care for Real is always the fourth calendar weekend every month, and our asylum seekers’ collection is the first weekend of each month.

We are so grateful for your help supporting Care for Real as they work to provide food and much-needed supplies to our neighbors who are struggling.  

Thank You from Fr. Mike Bradley

For some months, St. Gertrude parishioners have been praying for my sister Rosemary (Rosie) Bradley, who has courageously battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).

Rosie passed away on July 10 at her home in Denver, surrounded by family members. Her family and friends are very grateful for your constant prayers and wonderful support throughout this difficult time. Thank you very much!

Rosie is now at peace with our Lord Jesus and our Blessed Mother Mary.



~ Father Mike Bradley

Growing in Faith

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.” ~ Luke 10:41

Bob and I enjoy entertaining friends and family at our home. I even enjoy spontaneous and large get-togethers! The statement from Jesus in today’s gospel often summarizes my feelings when entertaining. I worry about what is served, how everything looks, and whether the company is comfortable and having a good time. Lots of details.

This Sunday’s gospel is the reminder I need to set these concerns aside and to keep in the forefront the reason for extending hospitality in the first place—to give your attention to whomever is invited or whomever unexpectedly visits, to ask questions, to have conversations, to listen, and to be present in each other’s company—to make our guests feel wanted and truly seen.

It has taken me years of observing, as a guest in other households, to learn how to juggle all the responsibilities of a host while being primarily present to the guests. However, I still struggle at times. But thankfully, even a burnt salmon, a terrible-tasting new side recipe, or serving just cheese and crackers can be forgiven—and even give our guests a good laugh.

Our seven-year-old twin grandchildren make signs welcoming Bob and me whenever we visit in Massachusetts. They write WE WANT YOU HERE in large letters. I think Jesus would approve of this hospitality sentiment.

~ Elaine Cerny 

Parish Garden Update

We're happy to report that the parish garden is thriving! Our latest harvest of fresh lettuce and herbs has been delivered to Care for Real, where it will be shared with neighbors in need.

Thanks to the hard work of our garden volunteers, this simple act of care is bringing fresh, healthy food to a few grateful families in our community.

Register Your Children for the 2025-2026 Religious Ed School Year in August!

Registration for the 2025-2026 Religious Ed school year will open in August!

Classes are held on Sundays from 9:15-10:15 am on the St. Gertrude campus. They will begin in September.

The goal of the Religious Education program at Saint Gertrude is to teach children to listen for and respond to God's invitation to love. 

In class, students and teachers work to: 

• Understand that everyone is loved and treasured by God.
• Live the lessons of Jesus Christ - loving God with your whole heart and loving your neighbors as yourself.
• Build a deeper personal relationship with God through prayer and reflection.
• Learn to pray as an individual and as part of a community. 
• Discover ways to love and serve others in our day-to-day lives. 
• Appreciate what it means to be part of a welcoming, loving community that cares for and respects people from all walks of life.
• Deepen their knowledge of the Catholic tradition.

The fees for the 2025-2026 school year are $230 for one child and an additional $40 for each student from the same family. Children making their First Communion/Reconciliation or their Confirmation will also need to pay a $75 sacramental fee.

Questions should be emailed to Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org. 

Free Summer Nights Concert Series in Edgewater

Enjoy free live music every Wednesday evening this summer in the beautiful garden behind the Edgewater Historical Society Museum (5358 N. Ashland Ave.). These weekly concerts feature talented local musicians and offer a great opportunity to relax, connect with neighbors, and make new friends.

The concerts are family- and pet-friendly, and take place from 6:00 to 8:00 pm through August 20.

Upcoming performances:

• July 23 – Front Six
• July 30 – Inversion (Jazz)
• August 6 – John Neafsey (Blues Guitar)
• August 13 – 3-4 The Road
• August 20 – Tony Richards

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a summer evening of music and community!

Lecture by Notre Dame Scholar on Saturday, July 26: A Contemplative Revolution: Eucharistic Beholding, Believing, and Becoming in a Frenetic Age at St. Gregory the Great

In an age where life rushes forward at a relentless pace—especially in a city like Chicago—how can we recover a sense of stillness, meaning, and presence? Join renowned theologian and author Timothy P. O’Malley for a timely and thought-provoking talk, A Contemplative Revolution: Eucharistic Beholding, Believing, and Becoming in a Frenetic Age. The event will take place on Saturday, July 26 at 10:30 am at St. Gregory the Great Church, 5545 N. Paulina St.

O’Malley will explore the spiritual consequences of our culture’s addiction to speed and digital immediacy, and offer a bold invitation to slow down. Drawing on themes from his latest book, Behold, Believe, Become: Meeting the Hidden Christ in Things We See, Say, and Do at Mass, he will reflect on the power of the Eucharist to reshape not only how we pray, but how we live. Through Eucharistic contemplation, O’Malley suggests, we can become agents of a quiet revolution—one rooted in presence, belief, and transformation.

Timothy P. O’Malley is a professor and Catholic theologian at the University of Notre Dame, where he serves as the associate director for research at the McGrath Institute for Church Life and the academic director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy. His writing and research focus on liturgical spirituality, sacramental theology, and the renewal of Catholic life.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, contact Mark Franzen at 773.561.3546 or visit stgregoryhall.org. Copies of Behold, Believe, Become will be available for purchase at the event.

Rest in Peace

• Ricardo Martinez, husband of Adel Stukas Martinez, father of Angie, Elena, Maria, Julie, and Carlos, grandfather of many (funeral Friday at 10:00 am at St. Gertrude)

• John Staggs, husband of Mary Clare Barker (wake Saturday, July 19 from 9:00-11:00 am at St. Gertrude, funeral to follow)

Baptisms

• Serena LeeAnn Czernecki

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, July 19 at 5:00 pm - Joseph McMahon, Millie Slane
• Sunday, July 20 at 8:00 am - TBA, Jay Cook
• Sunday, July 20 at 10:30 am - Sarah Millar, Anthony Myers

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, July 19 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
• Sunday, July 20 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, July 20 at 10:30 am - Ellen Pierce, Troy McMillan, Steven Monti

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, July 21: 7:30 am - Elinora Tolentino
• Tuesday, July 22: 7:30 am - John Staggs+
• Wednesday, July 23: 7:30 am -Liliana del Carmen Sepulveda Felio+
• Thursday, July 24: 7:30 am - Communion service; JoAnn Joyce+
• Friday, July 25: 7:30 am - Ricardo Martinez+
• Saturday, July 26: 7:30 am - Bernadette O'Reilly; 5:00 pm - John Reilly+
• Sunday, July 27: 8:00 am - John Skaggs; 10:30 am - Jim and Kevin Corbett+; Jack Degnan+

If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, please contact the Rectory at 773.764.3621 or email stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org. Names will remain on the list for three weeks. After that time, please renew the name using same contact information.